Gautam Banerjee

The news of the assassination of Gagan Singh reached the Hanuman Dhoka Palace within minutes after it happened. It was a well aimed single sniper shot fired from a neighboring roof top which killed Gagan Singh instantly while he was worshipping in his puja kotha at around 10 PM at night on 19th September 1846.
The Queen Rajyalakshmi on hearing the news walked from Hanuman Dhoka to Gagan Singh’s house located just minutes away, surrounded by an all women group of torch bearer and female guards with unsheathed sword. The scene of Gagan Singh’s bleeding dead body brought tears to her eyes. He after all was one of his most favorite courtiers and seeing him dead in this condition made her emotional which was bordered less on grief and more on anger. Determined to take revenge she ordered the family not to cremate the body till the murder was avenged.
The queen then left directly for Sheesh Mahal which was located close to The Hanuman Dhoka Palace. This double story structure built around a courtyard with glass windows by Bhimsen Thapa, was used for court meetings. The ground floor rooms served as a store room for arms. Hence it was also called Kampu Kot. It was in this building she arrived instead of her residence in Hanauman Dhoka. The first person to greet her on the door step of Sheesh Mahal was Jung Bahadur Kunwar.
“Junge, sound the bugle from Dharara. I want a meeting right now,” she ordered Jung Bahadur who bowed in obeyance. The bugle unfortunately would not be sounded for another hour as Jung Bahadur was busy preparing his team. Three companies of soldiers under him and stationed at Chauni, was waiting on the other side of Bishnumati River for Jung Bahadur’s signal under the command of Badri Narsingh and Ranoddip Singh. His other brothers were sent to those ministers who commanded army companies to come to Kot at the Queen’s orders.
The three companies of soldiers arrived and surrounded Kot at Jung Bahadur’s orders under the pretence of protecting the Queen. The gate to Kot was being monitored by his own cousin Bakhat Jung Kunwar who knew by heart the list of people who were to be allowed and denied entry to Kot on that fateful night.

Background
On 17th May 1845 Prime Minister Mathabar Singh Thapa was assassinated in a palace conspiracy. The new cabinet was formed with Fateh Jung Shah as the prime minister and Abhiman Rana, Gagan Singh Bhandari and Jung Bahadur Kunwar as his deputies. They all had army companies under their command. Fateh Jung had 3 companies, Abhiman Rana and Jung Bahadur each commanded 2 and 3 companies respectively and Gagan Singh commanded 7 companies which made him the most powerful of all four despite his junior status.
One of the sole aim of The Queen was to dispose the incumbent crown Prince Surendra Bir Bikram and install her own son Ranendra as heir apparent. The cabinet was also divided in camps. Fateh Jung and Abhiman Rana were the Kings men and Gagan Singh and Jung Bahadur known to be Queen’s supporter. Jung Bahadur also had the distinction being trusted by both Camps due to his gift of speech especially on the crown prince issue in which both Rajendra and Rajyalaxmi were confident that Jung would not fail them.
Another factor favoring Jung Bahadur was his 6 brothers and 12 officers all under thirty years of age, fiercely loyal to him and willing to kill and die at his command. His colleagues on the other hand were obese, with a more luxurious life style and had no visible strong support either in their family or the army companies they commanded.
Jung Bahadur was also marked in the British Residency as a strong supporter of Britain. During the Anglo Sikh war Fateh Jung wanted to despatch Gorkha forces in support of the Sikhs, which was turned down by Jung Bahadur and Gagan Singh who argued that the present conditions of Nepal did not allow a showdown with the British. With a weak and indecisive king the idea of Gorkhas marching to defend the Sikhs did not become a reality. However this gesture did not go unnoticed by the Residency and occupied a substantial space in the report to Calcutta.
The turbulence continued with the rift between the King and Queen getting deeper by the day and now resulted in the assassination of Gagan Singh who lay dead in his chapel with a single bullet through his chest.
The bugle finally sounded and the courtiers started arriving. It should be noted that the formal court dress of Nepal of those days included a sword in the waistband. As such all courtiers were equipped with sword but Jung Bahadur’s team had guns as well. Another point which the courtiers realized later was that the entry to Kot that night was one way. Those that got in were not allowed to come out.
Jung Bahadur in the meanwhile was in deep discussion with The Queen on the base of steps of The Seesh Mahal. Queen Rajyalaxmi was of the opinion that Bir Kishore Pande a palace staff was the main culprit and Jung Bahadur suggested that he be whipped first and after confession have him beheaded then and there. A pole was immediately erected in middle of Kot for this purpose at Jung’s orders.
Two main persons were absent. Fateh Jung Shah who became immediately suspicious as soon as he saw Bom Bahadur at his door step asking him to come to Kot and Abhiman Rana who went to the Palace first to inform the King with his soldiers in tow. Abhiman Singh Rana suggested that the night be spent in the Palace under the protection of his soldiers and visit Kot only the next day at day break. However King Rajendra did not take this very seriously and got ready to go to Kot, which was the biggest mistake The King committed.
The King arrived at the gate of Kot and although his name was not on the list he could not be refused. Everyone including his guards, servants entered the Kot together with Abhiman Rana and Dal Bhanjan Pande. Their soldiers were held outside.
First thing The Queen noticed was Bir Kishore Pande accompanying The King and in a fit of rage ran with a sword to cut him then and there. A nervous King managed to convince that killing a person for a crime not proved was not the solution and Fateh Jung Shah should be also present in the session. “ I will go and call him” said the king and walked out of Kot. Only King Rajendra was allowed exit and his servants, guards accompanying officers were all held behind on Jung’s orders.
Destiny had already deserted the King. The Shree Panch Maharajdhiraj of Nepal cut a sorry and pathetic figure that night travelling alone in a palanquin to call the Prime Minister in person through the quiet and dark streets of Kathmandu.
Fateh Jung Shah was in discussion with his sons and brothers as to whether he should go to Kot or not when the King came in and convinced him to go. “ Situation will grow worse if you are not present” requested the King, to which the prime minister replied that “ Jung Bahadur can only be stopped if the British Residence is present there.” King Rajendra said “OK I will call him. You all head for Kot” and again headed for the Residency alone in a palanquin from where he was turned back rudely by the Resident. King Rajendra Bikram Shah returned but did not go to Kot. He went back to the palace instead and slept.
Fateh Jung Shah’s group headed for Kot as slowly as possible hoping to meet up the King and the Resident enroute and ultimately landed up at the gate of Kot where they were literally pushed inside.

Eerie Scene
The scene at Kot was eerie. Despite torch lights lit on the sides, It was a dark moonless night and the presence of so many people cast a ghoulish shadow on the walls. Bir Kishore Pande was in chains and the Queen agreed to a court session the next day. With this decision The Queen and Jung Bahadur climbed up the steps to Sheesh Mahal while Fateh Jung, Abhiman Rana and Dal Bhanjan Pande waited at the base of the steps. Suddenly three bullets were fired simultaneously and Fathe Jung and Dal Bhanjan Pande fell down dead, while Abhiman Rana landed with an injured leg. The shots were fired simultaneously by Ran Meher Adhikary, Ramu Ale and Bhim Ale at Jung’s orders.
A bleeding and wounded Abhiman Rana managed to reach the group of courtiers who were unaware as to what had happened and informed them of death of the two ministers and urged them to fight. He then turned and limped to head out of the Kot to reunite with his soldiers.
On the door way he was fatally bayoneted by Juddha Bir Adhikary. As his body fell, Khadga Bikram Shah, son of Fateh Jung and only 21 years old drew his sword and charged followed by other courtiers.
Surrounded by six of Jung’s brothers Khadga Bikram fought bravely. Jung Bahadur seeing the scene from the window of Sheesh Mahal shot him dead with a single bullet. Swords could not be a match for guns and the battle raged in favor of Jung’s group. All courtiers, guards , servants left behind by King Rajendra were ruthlessly killed. Some taking advantage of the darkness escaped by climbing across the wall and through sewage pipes.
It was 2 AM in the morning when the massacre stopped. The Queen watched the scene from the window of Sheesh Mahal ordered that the crown prince Surendra be shown the sight to intimidate him. Jung Bahadur woke up the 17 year old crown prince, carried him to Kot on his back and showed him the scene of massacre saying that “your humble servant had do this for you Your Highness to protect you and ensure that you are always safe. Trust me for your safety”.
Dawn arrived and the macabre scene of Kot, cobblestones slippery with blood, dead bodies lying all around and the victorious warriors drenched in blood marching out of the gate was a sight to unnerve the brave.
Next day the escapees from Kot were hunted down and banished from Kathmandu including their families. Many escaped to India fearing repercussion. Queen Rajyalakshmi and her son Ranendra and Birendra Bir Bikram were banished to Benaras after a few months.
On the third day of the incident, Jung Bahadur took over the post of Prime Minister ending the King’s rule for 104 years and offered a stability in the country. A total of 31 persons lost their life in this brutal massacre and Jung Bahadur would rule till 1877AD as the de facto ruler and another power struggle would take place in 1885AD.

(A travel trade entrepreneur, Gautam has a keen interest in history)